Cologne (Koln), Germany in Adventures in paradise

I’m currently on a THALYS train from Cologne (Koln), Germany to Paris, France. I have no idea what to expect when I get there.

My friend said he was going to meet me at the train station, but now it looks like that isn’t happening - ergh. He knows French - I don’t.

This train is nice though. My pass gives me first class tickets on all international trains, so I’ve scored free power, food, alcohol and a pretty decent seat. At least this one is facing forward, unlike my one from Amsterdam to Koln.

Cologne (Koln) was a pretty cool city. I can see why it’s likened to my home town, although naturally Cologne was a hell of a lot better! I was only there for 1.5 days, and I really needed longer to see it properly. My hostel was seriously impressive. My bed was like a double sized bed, and this was in an 8-person dorm, although I think there were only about 4 of us in there. Very comfy and set out really nice.

Turns out my hostel was also literally across the road from another gay sauna LOL. I swear to god that was just coincidence.
After exploring (and getting lost with my credit running out - THAT was fun - not!), I figured why the hell not check it out.
It was bloody tragic. Nothing like the Amsterdam one. I’d imagine this one to probably be like the ones in my home city, not that I’ve been.
It wasn’t all bad though. I did get with a really hung guy who happened to be from London ^rolls eyes^.
Seriously impressed with how HUNG a lot of guys in saunas are. I guess they are there because they figure sluts will be in those venues who can actually take them. A lot of them also seem to be tops, so I got lucky just getting to blow a few of the hung tops, who came pretty fast, so that was good too lol.
A guy in the spa there (which wasn’t warm at all, mind you) struck up a conversation with me, telling me ‘You should go to Berlin. A good-looking guy like you would be in heaven there.”
Turns out he’d just come from there and had the time of his life. He’s a 65-year old guy from New Zealand LOL. How ironic, running into a fellow country-neighbour in a Cologne bathhouse.
I’m glad I did though. The night would have been even more lame if I hadn’t chatted to him for about an hour.
Eventually, I got a move on. You lose track of time in those places and I knew I had to be up to catch my train to Paris in the morning. I gave it one last round of crusing (still a new concept to me) and got off with some relatively attractive guy in the steam room. It was pretty slim pickings that night though. Thank God for that hung London guy, because at least that was something. He did ask me my name but I just kept sucking him, and he’s like ‘ohh, okay then, keep doing that’ haha.
I did find out the Kiwi guys name though and we shook hands. Dez. Dez the retired Kiwi. He’s off to Amsterdam next, so kind of doing the opposite of me, but naturally being retired, he has a lot more time to do shit than I do.
I am quite keen on Berlin now though!
He gave me some tips of Paris, which I’m already wary of. How people will try to distract you to steal your shit. Ergh, I’m already not looking forward to it. I already had about 5 people ask me for change at the Cologne train station, as well as some girl who asked if I spoke English and showed me a picture of some girl. As soon as I saw it though, I became cautious and just walked away from her. It totally sucks because naturally I’m a helpful, friendly person, but because of all this dodgy shit going on in countries I’m not used to, I feel like I can’t trust anyone and just moved away from her. I hate it, but hey.

So, Paris it is! My mother has pretty much been laying an egg back at home, it seems. She’s constantly asking me, “When are you leaving Paris?” and as soon as the media reports a single incident going on anywhere, she’s the first to Facebook-message me about it.
I get that she cares and is worried like any mother, but it’s seriously not helping me enjoy my holiday. That and ALL the others on Facebook telling me to ‘be careful’ and whatnot. It’s nice, but it’s a little annoying.
The thing is, we can’t predict shit. If we could, we’d all be millionaires. We just have to trust that government intelligence is on top of things and if shit happens, shit happens.
I was just thankful that the trains were still running to Paris and that the borders have reopened. I’m more worried about the language and the gypsies than anything else.
I tell you what though. The train just pulled up at a station in Belgium, and there were two army soldiers standing there on the platform with rifles.
A little bit eye-opening.

I now have to find my way to this hotel in Paris, and we’re doing the Eiffel tower tonight, I believe is the plan. If I can find my hostel in Germany, I’m sure I can find this place in Paris. Will see how I go :)

Here’s random Cologne pics I took.